Method and apparatus for displaying tiles



March 22, 1932" c WHITCQMB- 1,850,647

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING TILES Filed May 12, 19:50 2 Sheets-Sheet. i

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Match 22, 1%2. WHQT MB 1,850,647

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING TILES Filed May 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 swam tow ag. W a

Patented: Mar, 22, 1932 assess r emcee METHOD, APPARATUS iron DISPLAYING TILEs Application filed May 12, 1930. Serial No.45-L7Q8;

My invention relates to a methodof displaying articles of a ceramic or similar nature, such as brick tile or-the like, by taking individual pieces of different color, size or pattern and arrangingthem on a suitable supportprovided for the purpose, preferably in the formof adisplay rack, in such manner as toshow'the effect of any desired de sign; 3

The particular purpose of the method is to facilitate comparison of the effects of changes in design by enabling a quick substitution of different articles without deranging the entire design. r

The invention also relates to a novel foldable displaystand speciallyadapted to carrying out the method herein described and claimed. In thespecification reference is'made .to the accompanying drawings, which are made apart of the specification in which the meth ed and apparatus are described insuch clear and definite terms as will enable one skilled in the art to which the invention relates to practice the, same.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the particular display stand made use of and described herein, shown in its folded position. v' Figure 2 is a side view of the display stand set up ready for use, partly in section, on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a part of the display stand showing how tiles may be supported thereon. a

, Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the 6 transverse supporting bars or shelves, showing how, it is mounted on the display stand.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the supporting 7 bar shown in Figure 5 separate from the display stand.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the bottom left hand corner of the frame of the stand.

Figure 8 is a broken perspective view of the bottom member of the frame, shown separate from the other parts of the display stand.

Figures 9 and 10 are views to show a modified formof display stand which may be made I of wood, and

Figure 11 shows how the tiles be dis played'to show the effect of the pattern of the side wall and fioor tiles.

Referring to the drawings, the foldable display stand, shown folded in Figure 1, comprises sheet metal side members a, as having the cross section shown in, Figure 3 united at thetopof a top rail 1) having the same cross section, and at the bottom by a floor or bottom member 0. These parts are secured together by welding or other 'appropriatemeth- 0d, and the upper corners are preferably reinforced by channel shaped pieces (I inserted in the top member so as to ovei'rlie the welded seam, which pieces are spot welded in place.

At each end of the bottom member of the frame a portion 7 of the blank is bent rearward'to form a face which is spot weldedto the inner face of the side members a. bottom corners vertical channel pieces 6 are also spot welded in place to strengthen the side members. v

In'the middle of the frame a vertical guide 5 is secured by welding it at its ends/to the top and bottom members. The structure of.

this guide is clearly shown in Figure 5. It is contemplated that th1s vertical gulde may be reinforced by stlffemng metal pieces of any At the suitable form welded in place, but for clearness they are omitted from the drawings, as not a material part of the invention.

It will be observed that the front faces of the frame members are so constructed as to afford a recessed shoulder h surrounded at the topand sides by a projecting rim 2'; and this shoulder lies flush with and in the same plane with the inclined face of the bottom each end to the forward face of the rear flange of each leg.

The legs are maintained in rigid relation to the frame by short braces 72- pivoted at to the frame and extending through slots 1) in the rear flanges of the legs. Each brace n has in its lower edge a notch g, which by engaging the leg is at the bottom of the slot 12 serves to rigidly brace the legs in position. When not in use the braces 71 may be disengaged from the legs, and the latter then folded up into contact with the sides aof the frame.

A plurality of transverse supporting bars or horizontal shelves 1' are made use of, which may be placed at any desired position on the frame, the function of which is to afford supports or rests on which the tiles to be displayed may be placed. One of these supporting bars or shelves is shown in Figure 5. It consists of what is essentially a channel member of sheet metal having a groove 8 formed in the front face during the process of manufacture, in which groove a strip 27 of metal or other material is secured, which is to serve as a ledge for supporting the tiles. This channel member has in the middle a short piece 21, of U-shaped cross section, the arms of the U abutting the bottom of the channel member with the bottom of the U-shaped piece at the rear and flush with the arms of the channel.

Before inserting this U-shaped piece into the channel, a spring clip '0 is riveted or Q 2 otherwise secured to the bottom as shown in Figures 5 and 6. After insertion into the channel member the U-shaped piece is secured therein by spot welding. At each end similar but shorter U-shaped pieces 'w are secured in place by welding; but these members are secured in place in such manner as to project to the rear a short distance in order to afford sufficient clearance between the guide 9 and the spring clip '1; and its securing rivets.

Figures 9 and 10 are sufiicient without further description to show how a display stand, suitable for displaying ware in accordance with the method herein described, may be made of other material. than sheet metal, such as wood for instance.

In the use of tiles in rooms finished with this material it is common practice to have the tier on the side wall next the floor of I special formation to avoid a joint in an inaccessible part of the work, which is objectionable. A tile of this kind is shown in Figure 4, Where it is held against slipping out of position by the turned up flange 0 of the bottom member 0.

In the method of displaying the tile to show what the appearance will be when incorporated in the proposed structure, mantle or wall, a supporting bar 1" is placed at such a distance above the bottom member 0 that the upper edge of the bottom tier of tiles will fall just under the metal strip t. The spring clip 1) will hold the supporting bar in place on the guide 9 firmly enough to carry the weight of the next tier of tiles, which will rest on and be supported by the strip t, with the upper edge just under the strip t of the supporting bar next above.

In this way the entire display stand may be filled up with a number of tiers of tiles, which may vary in color, height, size or pattern; and when it is desired to observe the effect of a change in the character of any tier of tiles, the tier may be lifted off and others laid in place. If the tiles to be inserted are of greater vertical height the supporting bars above may be pushed u wards,- if of a. lesser height they may e drawn down the proper distance. In this way the customer himself may work out a design suitable to his own taste, and the salesman is saved the great inconvenience and expense of maintaining a large collection of display tablets made up of tiling set in cement, as has been the practice heretoore.

This freedom of arrangement also has the effect of affording means for quickly and easily displaying an unlimited number of original and novel arrangements and (lesi ns which has heretofore been impracticable ecause of the great labor and expense attendant on the preparation of permanent designs laid in cement.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invent-ion with? out (lepartingfrom the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A supportingbar for a display rack having a plain front face, a strip secured on a median lon itudinal line in the front face, a friction clip on the rear face adapted to engage a vertical guide on the rack, whereby its position on the rack may be adjusted.

2. A sheet metal supporting bar for a display rack having a longitudinally grooved front face, a strip secured in said groove, a spring clip secured to the rear of said bar, said clip having two arms adapted to engage opposite sides of a vertical guide, and means for rendering said sheet metal bar rigid;

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLARK A. WHITCOMB. 

